Mod Betty Is Thoroughly Charmed by Modern Millie

Though moved from when I first visited 10+ years ago, Millie's is still open in Salem! I've updated the address :-) 

Nowadays Retro Roadtrips can be plotted and charted to the Nth degree with the help of the internet, GPS and cell phones. However even in this high tech age we can still make an unexpected discovery simply by taking a different route to a known destination. This is how I encountered and was subsequently charmed by Modern Millie vintage clothing store  in Salem MA!

There is no Millie at Millie's, but not to fear, we've got proprietress Christine Robidoux, who is even better. A former theatre costumer and ex-chain-store-manager (sistah!) she learned how to sew from her Grandmother, who watches over the store like a guardian angel.

Gram!

Christine had always wanted a little place of her own, and when she spied the "For Rent" sign on her birthday almost 4 years ago she knew that the stars had aligned, and it was time to make her dreams a reality. Those were lucky stars for her as well as us lovers of all things vintage!

The bright colors of the mod prints and patterns in the window of her shop are a perfect antidote to the gloom-n-doomy goth colors so often seen in Witch City USA. Inside the riot of color continues on the colorful walls lined with a coordinated mix of vintage and contemporary clothing  with a retro fashion flair.

A few fab things about Millie's that I think most any shopper- both vintage and "regular" will dig:

1. The clothes that Millie (oops I mean Christine!) carries are hand picked to be wearable and mix with modern pieces. This is great when you like to wear vintage but don't want to feel as if you have dressed up for the Mad Men photo shoot in order to wear your finds. The fabric, cut and era of the clothing is hand selected to make sure no one feels like a fusty old maiden aunt when shopping here.

2. Another handy thing is that the clothing is divided up by sizes. This makes it easy to find something to fit on your mod bod, regardless of your figure. A nice little retail detail that is missed by many a shop owner, but appreciated by the shopper!

3. I swoon at the thought of walking into a shop like this and saying "I need to get out of my cardigan over teeshirt rut, what have you got?" and for someone to assess my assets and send me to the dressing room with an armful of things I might not put together myself. Well, Christine and her gals do personal shopping and can mix up your style,  just ask! Dang I wish I lived closer.

A  little retro shop stop during a Retro Roadtrip can be a nice change of pace. I think Retro Roadsis is going back sans RRkids to shop in peace- don't forget to tell 'em Mod Betty sends her regards!